Breakfast and Brunch Reviews in Montreal

The 411 Lasalle and Ville-Émard are part of the city where I don’t have too many brunch options listed. I mean, there are a few spots, but they tend to fall into the greasy spoon category. Not that there’s anything necessarily wrong with greasy spoons, but choice is a nice thing to have. So, ‘by choice’ I mean having some greasy spoons, some fancy spots, and some ethnic spots, you know, some kind of variety. So Byla Byla is an interesting option; it’s a sit down restaurant, so not your usual kind of greasy spoon, while also not an exclusive fancy spot, nor is it 100% ethnic.

At 1st glance Byla Byla is a spin on the Spanish word “bailar,” meaning dance. The cuisine is mostly Mediterranean, although the brunch has a fusion style: classic Montreal with some Mediterranean accents. It seats a little over fifty and has a mix of banquettes and tables. It was quiet when we went, but serving brunch and breakfast seven days a week I can foresee some tasty options in the area for people to grab a good bite close by.

Food The menu has a variety of options, most in the $10 range; all the dishes we ordered came with a fruit plate at the beginning of the meal. Coffee is not included but is only $1.49 and comes with free refills. The menu has a variety of dishes and some specials on it, and they even have a decent smoothie and fruit drink section. The break down of the menu is as follows:

5 smoothies $4.49

2 juices $1.99-$2.49

4 traditional $4.50-$6.95

3 eggs Benedict $9.95-$10.95

6 omelettes $6.95-$12.95

8 specials $8.95-$12.95

6 waffles/French toast $5.95-$8.95

6 crêpes $8.95-$10.95

3 bagel dishes $3.95-$9.95

6 yogourt dishes $4.95-$6.95

5 breakfast sandwiches $6.99-$9.99

We started off with some smoothies, of which there were some interesting flavours, but we settled on the Bright Eyes and the Big Breakfast Energy, each at $4.49. The Big Breakfast Energy contains banana, mango, wheat bran, flax seed and honey. This drink is interesting, as the wheat bran and flax seed create a notably pronounced taste that also affects the consistency. I liked it since it was a unique taste and quite delicious. The Bright Eyes differs greatly from the previous drink in that it consists of clementines and carrot juice. The mix of these two ingredients is quite enjoyable, and though the carrot juice is noticeable in the drink it does not overpower it. This is a good thing since I find that the taste of carrot juice can sometimes be rather too pronounced when used in smoothies.

Next came the Connaisseur ($9.95). This dish consists of two eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, and a choice of two pancakes or two slices of French toast. This is quite the mixed dish and its price is nice to see since you get a large variety of food, along with complimentary fruits, potatoes and pancakes. It’s an incredibly filling dish and has a great combination of items to satisfy even the hungriest of appetites.

Next up was the Rustica ($9.95). The crêpe had ham, mozzarella and cheddar cheese with tomatoes, topped with a béchamel sauce. This is a filled crêpe and it’s quite large as well. The two types of cheese work really well, so if you like that warm gooey taste then this cheesy dish may be a good idea. Although it looks thin, the crêpe is the size of the plate, and that’s quite large so don’t worry. You definitely wont be hungry.

Lastly, the Eggs Benedict Florentine ($10.95), which had spinach, poached eggs, and feta cheese on an English muffin topped with hollandaise sauce and shredded cheese. Feta and spinach is always a winning formula. What was new was the use of shredded cheese as a topping, which makes it look different and tasty as well.

Service

Our waitress was very nice. She checked up on us often and was really helpful with menu suggestions.

Vegetarian

Most dishes on the menu don’t have meat in them, so you have lots of choice. I didn’t, however, really see too many vegan options other than the fruit dishes.

Wrap up

I enjoyed Byla Byla as it’s a welcomed addition to Lasalle, and is a great alternative to a sea of greasy spoons. Overall, the staff is nice and the dishes are fun and well priced..